ENDOVASCULAR DELIVERY SYSTEM

摘要

A system for delivering and implanting a radially expandable endoluminal prosthesis within a body lumen (e.g., blood vessel). The system comprises: a) an introducer/dilator assembly, and b) a delivery catheter/loader assembly. The introducer/dilator assembly comprises an elongate tubular introducer sheath which may be provided with a valving assembly mounted on the proximal end thereof. A dilator, which has regionalized differences in stiffness, is initially deployable within the lumen of the introducer to facilitate advancement of the introducer to its desired location within the body. The delivery catheter/loader assembly may be attached to the introducer, such that the delivery catheter having the prosthesis mounted thereon may advanced through the introducer, to a desired location within the body. Thereafter, the radial expandable endoluminal prosthesis mounted on the delivery catheter is deployed and implanted by an expansion device (e.g., balloon) formed on the delivery catheter.